Here is a fascinating look at the science behind the story and characters of the celebrated graphic novel ‘Watchmen’ by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons which Zack Snyder has brought to the big screen. University of Minnesota physics professor James Kakalios was a consultant on the movie, adding a physics perspective to movie. In the video Kakalios reveals how quantum mechanics can explain Dr. Manhattan’s super human powers in the movie.
Kakalios’ consultancy with the movie began back in the summer of 2007. He advised on a range of topics, including the quantum mechanics of one of the characters, Dr. Manhattan. James Kakalios studies nanotechnology but has a passion for using superheros as a teaching tool; he even teaches a course in the subject and has also written a book, The Physics of Superheroes.
In a recent interview, he talked about Dr. Manhattan’s superpowers which include teleportation; as with the character’s blue color(“might just be leaking electrons”), he speculated it arises from an accident, that destroyed his “intrinsic field,” which is a fictional concept.
“Teleportation isn’t real,” Kakalios concedes. “But quantum mechanical tunneling is.” In quantum tunneling, which scientists have known about for some 80 years, a particle passes through a barrier that classical mechanical physics says it shouldn’t be able to. By that point, he says, “you’re dealing with real science that is just as fantastic as anything in the comic book.”
Source: How Scientifically Accurate Is Watchmen?
Find out more at the Web site for Kakalios book at PhysicsofSuperheroes.com
YouTube video Link
Video via Dave and Thomas: Science of Watchmen
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